I think most people can understand the vast cost of maintaining such buildings as Durham Cathedral or Westminster Abbey, however the church now charges exorbitant amounts of money to even enter the building. They do set aside a small chapel at York Minster for people who just want to pray. This is carefully screened off so you cannot see the interior of the main building. I, for one, refuse to pay the fee to enter such a building and confine myself to looking at the external architecture. At York adult admission is £10 for the minster or £15 for the minster and tower. I would gladly make a donation (probably equal to if not exceeding the fee) if I were not being "forced" to pay it. However judging by the number of people who do visit each day, week, month, year (some 1,600,000 in 2000) visitor fees alone are substantial, that is not taking into account money spent on tourist tat which seems to be ever present(and in increasing amounts) at such venues together with guide books, candles etc etc.